ES teksti

EU-former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Agreement

The "Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part" was signed in Luxembourg on 9 April 2001 and entered into effect on 1 April 2004.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) forms part of the stabilisation and association process initiated by the EU in order to consolidate the Western Balkans region.

The SAA establishes bilateral contractual relations between the EC and the countries of the region which are tailored to their requirements.

This Agreement with former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is the first SAA with one of the countries of the region. It contains a future developments clause in its preamble confirming the country's status as a potential candidate for EU accession. There is also a human rights clause.

The agreement covers both political and economic aspects and aims to foster cooperation and good neighbourly relations with the other countries of the region, including an appropriate level of mutual concessions concerning the movement of persons, goods, capital and services. The Agreement provides for the creation of a free trade area with a maximum transition phase of 10 years.

Article 114 of the Agreement establishes a Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee as "a forum for Members of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonian Parliament and the European Parliament to meet and exchange views."